42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 87

in effect

42 Pa.C.S. § 8701 Interpreters for the deaf (Deleted by amendment).

2006 Amendment. Section 8701 was deleted by amendment Nov. 29, 2006, P.L.1538, No.172, effective in 60 days.

42 Pa.C.S. § 8702 Impaneling jury from another county.

(a) General rule.--If, upon motion and following a hearing, the court of common pleas determines that a fair and impartial jury cannot be impaneled in the county where the criminal complaint is filed, as an alternative to issuing an order for a change of venue the court may direct that jurors be impaneled from another county. The order for impanelment of a jury from another county shall be certified forthwith to the Supreme Court which shall designate and notify the county of impanelment. (b) Impanelment and transportation.--The jury shall be impaneled as in other cases in the county where the jury is to be impaneled and transported to the county where the complaint is filed. (c) Payment of costs.--All costs incurred under this section shall be paid by the county where the complaint is filed. (d) Change of venue powers unaffected.--This section does not lessen the power of the court of common pleas to order a change of venue. (Apr. 1, 1980, P.L.62, No.25, eff. imd.) 1980 Amendment. Act 25 added section 8702.

42 Pa.C.S. § 8703 Arraignment.

(a) General rule.--The arraignment of the defendant may be satisfied, in the discretion of the court, either by the physical appearance of the defendant before the court or by two-way electronic audio-video communication. The audio-video communication must operate so that the defendant and the judge can see each other simultaneously and converse with each other. If the defendant has counsel, the defendant shall be allowed to communicate fully and confidentially with his attorney during the proceeding. A judge may order the defendant to physically appear in court for the arraignment. (b) Court rules.--Except for the provisions of this section, arraignments shall be in the form and in the manner as provided by court rule. (June 11, 1998, P.L.463, No.67, eff. 60 days) 1998 Amendment. Act 67 added section 8703.

42 Pa.C.S. § 8721 Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section: "Confidential information." Any records, files, data or information, withheld as confidential, whether pursuant to statute or otherwise, by any Commonwealth agency from the Attorney General, a district attorney, the Pennsylvania Crime Commission or a committee or subcommittee of either House of the General Assembly having subpoena power to investigate criminal activity. The term shall not include personal income tax information or the investigative or intelligence files of the State Police, the Attorney General or the Pennsylvania Crime Commission. "Crime Commission." The Pennsylvania Crime Commission existing under the act of October 4, 1978 (P.L.876, No.169), known as the "Pennsylvania Crime Commission Act."

42 Pa.C.S. § 8722 Petition for access to confidential information.

The Attorney General, a district attorney, the Executive Director of the Crime Commission acting pursuant to a resolution of the Crime Commission or a committee or subcommittee of either House of the General Assembly having subpoena power to investigate criminal activity, may ex parte petition any judge of the Commonwealth Court for an order providing access to confidential information. Cross References. Section 8722 is referred to in section 8723 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 8723 Grounds for access.

Any judge of the Commonwealth Court shall enter an order providing access to confidential information if, on the basis of a petition under section 8722 (relating to petition for access to confidential information), he finds that: (1) the petitioner is engaged in an ongoing investigation of criminal activity; and (2) a Commonwealth agency may have confidential information reasonably related to such an investigation. Cross References. Section 8723 is referred to in section 8724 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 8724 Disclosure of confidential information.

(a) General rule.--Disclosure of confidential information shall be limited as follows: (1) disclosure by the Commonwealth agency holding such information shall be limited to persons personally and directly engaged in the ongoing investigation by the petitioner under section 8723 (relating to grounds for access); and (2) disclosure by the petitioner: (i) in the case of the Attorney General or a district attorney, shall be limited to judicial or administrative proceedings; (ii) in the case of the Crime Commission, shall be limited to official reports; and (iii) in the case of a committee or subcommittee of either House of the General Assembly, shall be limited to regular meetings of the committee or subcommittee or debate on the floor. (b) Contents of order.--Commonwealth Court orders entered under section 8723 shall specifically limit the disclosure of confidential information as provided in subsection (a). Cross References. Section 8724 is referred to in section 8725 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 8725 Penalties for improper disclosure.

(a) Criminal penalties.--Any person who discloses any confidential information obtained under this subchapter other than as provided in section 8724 (relating to disclosure of confidential information) or otherwise authorized by law commits a felony of the third degree. (b) Civil liability.--Any person who discloses any confidential information obtained under this subchapter other than as provided in section 8724 or otherwise authorized by law shall be liable to any person damaged thereby in an action for invasion of privacy for the following: (1) Treble the actual damages proved. (2) Reasonable attorney fees. (c) Good faith reliance on a court order.--Good faith reliance on a court order entered under this subchapter shall be a complete defense to any criminal liability under subsection (a) or civil liability under subsection (b).

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=42Fetched: 10/16/2026